This is all about the organization that aims to transform the Illinois Democratic Party from within. PDI also exists to act as a bridging organization between Progressive groups throughout Illinois. It's time for a cohesive Progressive movement, and we intend to facilitate exactly that.

Friday, January 20, 2012

[PDI] Actions from the Illinois Coalition for Justice, Peace, and the Environment

*** SENT THROUGH PDI MAILING LIST ***Third Unitarian Church Social Action Committee

January 15 Cassandra Harlan of Mighty Twig in Evanston will speak about this community-organized library replacing a closed branch in an integrated working class neighborhood. How could Evanston have closed this library? How did these Friends of the Library organize to replace it? Check out themightytwig.com. Deb Donovan will facilitate.

January 22: Kathy Kelly, a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, who has traveled to Afghanistan five times since May of 2010, will speak about her most recent experiences, (Kelly returned from Afghanistan on January 5, 2012), and present brief videos created by the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers regarding their hopes to live without wars. VCNV.org Laurel Lambert will facilitate.

January 29. Joe Allen will speak on his latest book: People Wasn't Made to Burn: A True Story of Race, Murder, and Justice in Chicago. The well reviewed book (http://www.thenation.com/blog/161904/true-crime-our-times-people-wasnt-made-burn) is said to "reinvent the true-crime genre." It relates how in 1947, James Hickman shot and killed the landlord he believed was responsible for a tragic fire that took the lives of four of his children on Chicago's West Side. Joe Allen is a Chicago based activist, writer, former teacher and member of the International Socialist Organization. Laurel Lambert will facilitate.

January 21, 2012 is the 2 year anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC which allowed corporations to secretly spend unlimited amounts of their treasury to influence elections based on ridiculous rulings by the US Supreme Court that a corporation is a person and that money is free speech.

Move to Amend is taking action all over the country by Occupying every Federal courthouse in the country on Friday Jan. 20, 2012 to gain public support for an amendment to the US Constitution to get corporate money out of our elections!

If you are coming from DuPage County, please join us on one of the two Metra trains, as we ride the train in solidarity to the downtown Chicago rally and march. Please join us on the last open train car. Union Pacific West Metra Line: If riding the Union Pacific West Metra Line, look for DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend coordinator Frank Goetz, frankgoetz@comcast.net, 630-653-0597, in the last open car. Frank will board at the Wheaton station. BNSF Railway Metra Line: If riding the BNSF Railway Metra Line, look for DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend coordinator Judy Bloom, judy-bloom@sbcglobal.net, 630-985-0904, in the last open car. Judy will board at the Lisle station. Here are some suggestions for what to write on your protest signs 1)

January 21, 2012 is the 2 year anniversary of Citizens United v. FEC which allowed corporations to secretly spend unlimited amounts of their US and foreign treasury to influence elections based on ridiculous rulings by the US Supreme Court that a corporation is a person and that money is free speech.

Move to Amend is taking action all over the country on this anniversary of the death of our democracy to gain public support for an amendment to the US Constitution to get corporate money out of our elections!

DuPage Coffeehouse Move to Amend and Occupy Naperville are teaming up on this day to hold a mock funeral procession to mourn the death of our democracy. We will have a fake coffin with "US Democracy" written on the side. We will be recruiting pall bearers to carry the coffin. Wear funeral clothing and bring protest signs or drums for the funeral march.

See Occupy the Courts - Protest the 2 year anniversary of the Citizens United v FEC US Supreme Court Decision above for ideas for what to write on the signs.

Meet on the sidewalk on the La Grange street side. We won't be able to picket on the entrance as it is 'private property'

Saturday Jan 21, 2012 NOON to 1pm

Let folks know why Trader Joe's refuses to sign an agreement with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). CIW has been instrumental in stopping degrading conditions including slavery among tomato pickers in Florida.

Background: Over the past decade, CIW has forged a coalition of retail food industry leaders, Florida tomato growers, and farmworkers committed to structurally addressing farm labor poverty and degradation. These nine multi-billion dollar food retailers (including Whole Foods Market, McDonald's, Subway, and Burger King) and the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, which represents 90% of the state's tomato growers, have agreed to support the CIW's Fair Food principles, including a wage increase, a strict code of conduct, a cooperative complaint resolution system, a participatory health and safety program, and a worker-to-worker education process. This program has the potential to dramatically improve the lives of 33,000 farmworkers throughout the state.

Currently there is no credible or transparent mechanism for Trader Joe's to verify that its own minimal supplier standards are being met, much less a commitment to forge a higher set of standards through direct partnership with farmworkers themselves. Moreover, recent statements by Trader Joe's spokespeople – compounding several years of corporate inaction – make it increasingly clear that the company has no interest in joining the Fair Food program. Having witnessed the effectiveness and tenacity of the CIW, as well as the dedication of consumers to this particular issue,we believe this is a misstep on the part of Trader Joe's.

Join us for a free Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice Presents FREE FILM SERIES The Return of Navajo Boy Co-sponsored by the Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room, Oak Park Main Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 2 pm

The prizewinning documentary THE RETURN OF NAVAJO BOY, directed by Jeff Spitz, 2 pm, Sunday, January 29, at the Oak Park Main Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL. THE RETURN OF NAVAJO BOY is an internationally acclaimed film that reunited a Navajo family and triggered a federal investigation into uranium contamination. The film chronicles the extraordinary chain of events, beginning with the appearance of a 1950s film reel, which lead to the return of a long lost brother to his Navajo family.

THE RETURN OF NAVAJO BOY reveals the impact of uranium mining on the Navajo of Monument Valley. It highlights the story of Elsie Man Begay, whose history in pictures reveals an incredible and ongoing struggle for environmental justice.

The film will be followed by a short panel presentation with Jeff Spitz, director of THE RETURN OF NAVAJO BOY, Jennifer Amdur Spitz, co-founder of Groundswell Films, and Joseph Podiasek, Executive Director of the American Indian Center, President of NUIFC (National Urban Indian Family Coalition) and Commissioner, City of Chicago Human Relations. Q & A and open discussion will follow the panel presentation.

Join us on Friday February 3rd for the opening of the Art Exhibit by Prisoners and on Saturday February 4th for: "Not Guilty, A Conference to Abolish the Prison Industrial Complex".

Come to learn more about our "Not Guilty" campaign to get people out of prison and hear from representatives of the Fully Informed Jurors Association on the strategy of jury nullification. This event will serve as an open forum for activists to share their experience and discuss ideas for joint action geared towards dismantling the facets of the prison industrial complex. Attendees will be given time to address the group about their ongoing campaigns, actions, and initiatives. Following the presentations will be an informal gathering where people can break out into smaller discussion groups, socialize with others, and bridge our local networks. Stick around afterwards for the art show that exhibits the work of prisoners and enjoy a full night of live music.

Friday, February 3rd

7PM - Prisoner Art Exhibition 9PM - 12AM - Live Music (TBA)

Saturday, February 4th

5:30 - 6:00 -Doors open / refreshments 6:00 - 8:00 -Speakers / presentations - (organizations and activists are invited to join the open forum to talk about ongoing initiatives) 8:00 - 9:00 -Group discussion / break-out session with small working groups 9:00 - 10:00 -Hang out and talk with other activists / social networking 10:00 - 1AM -Live music and art show

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

At a time when the U.S. has the largest prison population in the world, with over 2.3 million people incarcerated, we have to recognize that there is a serious problem! The U.S. has only 5% of the world's population but it has 25% of the world's inmates. Now with the recent passage of the NDAA of 2012 it looks like this country is moving even closer towards a police state. This is a time when activists and grassroots organizations must unite across the board in order to fight this modern system of historical oppression.

We are calling upon humanitarians to join us in a people's movement to abolish the prison industrial complex, starting with a campaign called "Not Guilty".

Many people don't realize that the only place within our entire system of government where citizens actually have any real political power is on the jury. By serving on the jury, citizens not only have the power to determine the facts of a case, but to judge the morality of the law itself. By voting "Not Guilty" jurors have the ultimate power to acquit innocent people of unjust charges as a final safeguard and protection against a corrupt government that is violating the rights of the public. By serving on a jury people have the ability to help prevent their fellow citizens from being wrongfully punished for unjust laws. In order for justice to truly be served, jurors must be properly informed of their right to vote according to their conscience and the social responsibility to acquit nonviolent offenders who are being issued harsh and excessive punishment for victimless crimes as a result of government abuses.

In light of the occupy movement, we are calling upon our fellow activists and grassroots organizations to launch a radical people's movement to occupy our local courthouses and simply educate jurors about their essential rights, roles, and responsibilities.